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Would-be burglar who was shot gets probation

A would-be burglar who was shot outside a home in Gateway earlier this summer after throwing rocks at the home was ordered Monday to spend two years on probation.

Mesa County District Judge Brian Flynn sentenced 63-year-old William Bailey after he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of criminal mischief, according to Deputy District Attorney Jason Conley.

Bailey, who lives in St. Petersburg, Fla., was shot early on the morning of June 28 at a home at 19200 Colorado Highway 141.

A resident of the home, Joseph Alesi, told investigators he awakened that morning to the sound of something striking the side of the house and that a rock crashed through the master bedroom window.

Alesi loaded his 12-gauge shotgun and walked outside to investigate. After firing two warning shots into the air, he fired a shot toward the ground when some bushes moved. The shot struck Bailey, who was hiding in the bushes, in the legs, according to court records.

Bailey and Alesi’s wife, Diana Bonfilio, had known each other years ago from teaching in Florida, and Bailey had visited the home as a guest in April 2009, according to court records.

Bailey told investigators a couple of different stories before admitting he had driven from Florida with the intent of getting inside the home to retrieve firearms ammunition he claimed belonged to him, according to court records.

Conley said Flynn allowed Bailey to transfer his case to Florida but ordered him to comply with a mental health evaluation and any treatment ordered by probation officials there. Bailey must also pay for the damage to the window.